Tailstock clamp



Feb. 1 1927.

E. A. MOYER TAILSTOCK CLAMP kFiled April 1, 1925 y naamw/1,' e y 17 16 MfTTo/:NE

/NVEN TUI? Patented Feb. 1, 1927.

Ll E

- reir..L

WHITNEY'COMPANYyOENETYORK; N. Y., A. CEFQRATIONF NEW" TAILSTOCK4 CLAMP.

Applicationv .led April. 1, 1925.

This invention relatesv to tailstocks and particularly to a tailst-ock clamping mechal nism enabling the tailstockto be quickly and accurately clamped in adjusted position.`

An object ofthe present. invention is-to provide a tailstock clamping. mechanism which will firstforce the tailstoek laterally againstione of the ways of the machine on which it may be mounted and thenwill rigid ly clamp the tailstock in any position along the bed of the machine while retained in that lateral position.

@ne` feature. which enables me to accomplishthe above named object that a wedge member is provided.between a surface of the tailstockand a` vertical surface of the ways of the machine, means being provided to force this wedge member. into operative position. as the tailstoclcis being clamped.

Another feature which is advantageous is that this wedge member' is springoperated to advance it to its operative position when the clamping member forthe tails'tocl is moved `to clamping position..

Another object of the invention is to yprovide-positive means for withdrawing.- the wedge member from operative position when the tailstockV is unclampedso that thetail- .stock may be readily adjusted along the bed 'ofthe machine.

`With these and other objects in view, my invention consists inthe features of'constructionand operation set forth inthe following specification andillustrated in the accompanying drawing In. the accompanying.drawing annexed hereto and forming a part of this specification,y I have shown my invention embodied in a tailstoclc usable for lathes, thread millingmachines, etc.. but itwillbe understood that the` invention canbe otherwise-embodied and'that the. drawings are not to be construed as defining or limiting` the scope of theV invention,- the Yclaims appended `to --this specification being relied upon for that purposes In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a complete tailstock showing the improved clamping mechanism associated therewith.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the tailstock and its clamping mechanism taken upon line 2-2 of 1, and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the wedge member and operating mechanism therefor Serial No. 19.992.

taken `upon line 3 3 of Fig. 2 with the parts in unclamped position.

ln the above n'ientioned drawingl have shown but one embodiment of the invention which is now deemed preferable, but it is to bev understood that changes and modilieationsvmay` be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the .spirit of the invention.

Briefly and in its broadest aspectl my invention comprises the following principal parts: first, a tailstock slidably mounted upon ways provided on a machine; second, a clamping block adapted to engage below .sur-- faces ofthe waysrthird. an -eccentricl and bolt for moving the clamping block to its clamping` and unclamping position; fourth, a lever for operatingthe eccentric;y fifth a wedge member positioned between a part of the tailstock depending below the ways and a surface of one of the ways; sixth, a plunger normally forcing the wedge block toward its operative position: and seventh, means on the shaft carrying theeccentric for positively withdrawiim' the wedge member from operative position when the clamping block is moved to unclamping position.

Referring more in detail to the figures of the drawing. I provide a tailstock 1() which may be of any conventional or usualtype movably mounted upon ways 11 and. 12 formed on the bed 13 of a machine shown fragmentarily in Figui. The tailstock 10 is provided with a depending projection 14 eX- tending longitudinally of the tailstock and adapted to engage against the vertical wall of one of the ways 11. Another projection 15 extending longitudinally which is slightlybeveled upon one side and spaced from the opposite way is also provided. Below `the tailstock 10 is a clan'iping` plate 16.0f

usual or conventional form adapted atits opposite ends to engage the lower surfaces of the ways 11 and 12. An adjustable bolt 17 passing through the clampingplate 16 has its upper end. which is in the form offan eye, engaged by an eccentric 18 formed on a transversely extending shaft 19. By means of a lever 20 at one end of this shaft 19. the eccentric 18 may be Oscillated to clamp or unclamp the clamping plate 16. Adjustments of the bolt 17 may be made by setting up a nut 21 on its lower threaded end.

Tvlithin the space between the forward projection 15 on the tailstock 10 and a vertill Li i) tical wall of the ways 12 on the machine is provided a wedge shaped member 22 loosely held to the tailstoclt by small screws 23. These screws 3 permit limited vertical adjustment of the wedge member 22. In or der to raise the wedge member 22 into its operative position, plungers 2l are inserted within the clamping plate 16 and held upwardly by coil springs provided in suit able recesses. Oscillation, therefore, of the lever 2O to raise the clamping plate 16 to its clamping position will cause the plungers 2li to raise the wedge member 22, and, due to its beveled surface` this movement of the wedge member 22 will force the tailstoclt 10 against the rear vertical surface ot the ways 11. llnclamping and lowering the clamping block 16 will separate the plungers 24; from the lower surface of the wedge member 22 so that it may be withdrawn from its operative position.

ln order to positively withdraw the wedge member 22 from its operative position, a small plunger 26 is provided within the tailstoclt 10, its lower end being adapted to bear against the upper surface of the wedge member The upper end of this plunger 26 adapted to contact with a head 2? posi tioned as shown in Figs. 2 and S upon the forward end of the eccentric operating shaft 19. rlhe position ot this small head 2i.' is

such that oscillation of the shaft 19 to unclamp the clamping' block 16 will force the head 27 against the upper surface of the plunger or pin 26 and thus positively force the wedge memberl 22 out of its operative position so that the tailstoclt 10 will be completely unclamped and released from the ways 11 and 12 so that it may be adjusted. longitudinally alongI the ways.

From the above description it will be seen that in first raising` the clamping plate 16 to its irlamping position the wedge member 22 is forced upwardly to its operative position, thus forcing the tailstoclt 10 against the rear ways 11. The plungers 24; are thus retracted within their recesses during the remainder of the clamping operation and will retain the wedge member in its upper and operative position. The tailstoclt 10 therefore, whenever it is being clamped along the ways, will be first forced laterally in the same direction against one of the ways, thus always accurately positioning it laterally and simultaneously positively clamping it in that adjusted position.

That I claim is:

1. A tailstock clamp comprising in combination, a tailstoclt, a clamping plate, means means to clamp said plate against ways of a machine, a wedge member adapted to engage a projection on said tailstock and a wall of one of the ways to force said tailstock laterally, and means to advance said wedge member into operative position when said plate is moved to clamping position.

2. A. tailstoclt clamp comprising` in combination, a tailstocl. a clamping plate, an eccentric for clamping said plate against ways of a machine, a wedge member adapted to force said tailstocl laterally against a way, resilient means to advance said wedge member into operative position when said plate is moved to clamping position, and positive means to withdraw said wedge member.

3. A tailstock clamp comprisingin combination, a tailstock, a clamping plate, an eccentric for clampingl said plate against ways of a machine. a wedge member adapted to force said tailstock laterally against a way, resilient means carried by the clamping plate to advance said wedge member into operative position when said plate is moved to clamping position, and positive means to withdraw said wedge member.

4l. A tailstoclt clamp comprising in combination, a tailstocl, a clamping plate, an eccentric for clamping and unclamping, said plate, a lever for actuating said eccentric, a wedge member loosely supported on the tailstocl, means to move said wedge member to opera-tive position when said plate is moved to clamping position, and means actuated by said lever to withdraw said wedge member from operative position when the plate is unclamped.

5. A tailstoclt clamp comprising in combination, a tailstock, a clamping plate, an

eccentric for clamping and unclamping said plate, a lever for actuating said eccentric. a wedge member loosely supported on the. tailstock, means to move said wedge member to operative posit-ion when said plate is moved to clampingv position, and a plunger engaging said wedge member and actuated by said lever to withdraw said wedge member from operative position when the plate is unclamped.

In testimony whereof, Ihereto aliix my signature.

EDVARD A. MOYER. 

